Navigating Through Fire: How 24-Year-Old Hifa Salim Brave Middle East Missile Strikes at Sea

When 24-year-old Hifa Salim stepped onto a massive commercial cargo ship for her first deployment, she expected the usual challenges of a rookie marine engineer—strenuous shifts, homesickness, and navigating a male-dominated industry. She did not expect to find herself in the crosshairs of a geopolitical conflict, watching missiles tear through the sky above her.

Hifa, a native of Edakkazhiyoor near Chavakkad in Thrissur, Kerala, recently made headlines not just for breaking barriers as the first female merchant navy officer from her locality, but for her extraordinary courage under literal fire in the Persian Gulf.

From Thrissur, Kerala to the High Seas

Growing up, Hifa harbored a steadfast dream of donning the white uniform of the Indian Navy. While life pivoted her toward the commercial sector, her passion for the ocean never wavered. She pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from the prestigious Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai.

Upon graduation, she secured a position as a Fifth Engineer—the most junior engineering officer on board—with a prominent global shipping firm. In October, she flew to Houston, USA, to board her first vessel. As the youngest and newest crew member, her fellow seafarers affectionately gave her the nickname "Paanch Saab" (Fifth Officer).

You don’t expect to see a missile on your first ship. I didn’t.

I am 24. 5th Engineer on BW Kizoku. Everybody on board calls me “Paanch Saab”. I like that name. It makes me feel like I belong, even though I don’t have a watch yet.

First week of March, our vessel was supposed to load at Kuwait. Then war started. Suddenly. Company message came: “Drift outside the Strait of Hormuz, near Fujairah OPL.” We drifted there for a few days. Later I realised, if we reached 15 hours earlier, we would have been trapped inside. That 15 hours saved us.

One morning, vessel was drifting. I went to deck before engine room rounds. Just to get some fresh air. Normal routine. We were not far from land.

I heard a loud sound from the sky. I lifted my head up, and there I saw some flashes going one after the other. So fast and sudden. Missiles. It lasted maybe five or six seconds. Then gone.

This was the first time I saw missiles in real life. And it was on my first ship. My hands started shivering. I had read news about war in GCC and attacks on ships. But seeing it is different. Hearing that sound is different. Sea was quiet. But sky was not.

I ran down to engine room. I was tensed and confused.

Every day my Umma calls from home and asks, “Mole, war is there, right? You are safe?” I always say, “No Umma, I am safe.” But that day, I didn’t know what to tell her the next time she calls.

I started thinking very bad things. “What if something happens? We are drifting in middle of sea. I cannot even sign off. Should I tell 2nd Engineer, ‘Sir I am scared, I want to go home’?” I was really thinking that, and I was ready to quit at that moment. Then I heard it. Main engine starting. Small kick ahead from bridge for position.

I heard the air starting sound. “Tak Tak Tak.” I hear that sound every time. But that morning it felt different. It felt like the heartbeat of the ship. And that time I realised, the ship is alive. We are not alone.

Caught in the Crossfire

Her initial months at sea went smoothly as the vessel crossed the Atlantic and entered the Mediterranean. However, as the ship charted a course toward Kuwait, tension boiled over in the Middle East. The Israel-Iran conflict escalated sharply, turning the Persian Gulf into one of the most perilous maritime zones in the world.

As a safety precaution, Hifa's ship was ordered to drop anchor off the coast of Fujairah, just outside the volatile Strait of Hormuz. It was here that reality struck.

While standing on the deck early one morning, Hifa witnessed a sight that most people only see on the news: military missiles cutting through the sky, roaring past their vessel.

Overcoming Fear in the Engine Room

For a 24-year-old on her maiden voyage, the experience was terrifying. Safe inside a steel hull but acutely aware of the vulnerability of a cargo ship, Hifa initially grappled with panic. The urge to pack her bags and return to the safety of Kerala was overwhelming.

Furthermore, she had to carry the emotional burden alone; during her brief satellite calls home, she carefully hid the danger from her parents to save them from sleepless nights.

What turned the tide for Hifa was the stoic professionalism of her senior officers. Watching the captain and chief engineer maintain absolute calm under pressure inspired her to push past her fear. Descending deep into the belly of the ship, she locked her focus onto her duties in the engine room. She realized that the survival of the ship depended on every cog turning perfectly—including her.

A Beacon of Inspiration

Hifa successfully completed her high-risk transit, proving her mettle under circumstances that would test even seasoned veterans. Today, she stands as a powerful role model for young Indian women looking to break into maritime careers. Her story is a testament to the fact that bravery isn’t the absence of fear, but the resolve to keep moving forward despite it.

As Hifa prepares for her next voyages, "Paanch Saab" has truly earned her stripes, proving that Kerala's daughters can navigate both heavy machinery and geopolitical storms with equal grace.

Credits:  blog/essay-contest-decision-at-sea-hifa-salim